Hogan Lovells LLP is close to renewing its lease at Columbia Square, a deal that would take the firm off the table for other tenant-hungry landlords and developers with properties large enough to accommodate the region's second largest law firm, according to real estate sources.

Hogan, with about 469 lawyers in the area, has signed a letter of intent to renew its lease with Hines at 555 13th St. NW. Negotiations are expected to be completed in January, according to real estate sources. Details of how much space Hogan will be retaining as part of its renewal were not clear...

Bisnow first reported in October 2012 that Hogan was out with a space requirement for 350,000 square feet and had retained Studley Inc. broker Rick Rome to represent the firm in the search. A space requirement could have positioned it to anchor any one of a number of planned projects including Douglas Development Corp.'s Square 450, First Potomac Realty Trust's Storey Park and Gould Property Co.'s 600 Massachusetts Ave. NW.